Wall or the like



Dec. 20, 1938. R. L. HOHL 03 WALL OR THE LIKE Filed March 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 20, 1938.' R. L. HOHL & 9

` WALL OR'THELIKE Filed March 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 20, 1938. HOHL WALL OR THE LIKE Filed March 12, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 23% mmm Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALL OR THE LIKE Russell L. Holl, New York, N. Y., assigno' to Bevere Copper and Brass Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a Corporation of Maryland Application March 12, 1938; Serial No. 195562 23 .cms. (01.72-4Q2)` My invention relates to building constructions, and particularly, but not exclusively, is concemed with walls made of 'blocks' held together by reasame; 'will be best understood from the following' description when read in the light of the accompanying drawings of a wall embodying the invention, the scope of which latter will be more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawngs:-' 4 Fig. 1 is a fragment of a 'wall constructed according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig; 'on

an enlarged scale and with parts broken away; I Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Flg. 2 with parts in elevation;

Fig. 4 ilustrates a fragmentof a modifi !cnn of bonding means; v Fig. 5 is a section corresponding to Fig. 3 with the blocks omitted and the upper and lower vertical bon'ding members moved into disassembled relation with the other parts; and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Flg. 5. Referring to the drawings, the wall illustrated comprises blocks I which preferably are Iormed oiglass and, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, preterably are hollow, although it will be understood that, ii' desired, the blocks .may be formed o! other material and may be so1id.

As shown, the exterior surtaces of the blocks at the front and back of the wall are so formed as topresent recesses 3 providingshoulders 5, which shoulders extend continuously about the tour* edges of the block at the front-and back of the wall. As shown, the blocks also are Iormed 40 'with a groove 'I extending uninterruptedly around' those four sides of the block which are transverse to the wall.

According to one embodiment of the inven tion, positioned between .the horizontal rows of blocks at the edges of said rows are horizontal members 9, the latter being coextensive inlength with *the plurality of blocks These 'members conveniently are formedot -long lengths 'of ma-` terialsuch as aluminum' or bronze or other metal o which can be rolled or extruded to give the membe's the desired cross-section. Herein, the body portions oi' the members have substantially'flat upper and 'lower surfaces Il which contact with the blocks and act to space them apart, and are u integrally formed at their outer edges with upwardly and downwardly projecting elongated flange portions l3 which engage with the shoul ders'i of the blocks. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, upper faces oi' the body portions of the members' i 3 are provided with longitudinally extending grooves l 5, the wall portions l'l 'at the inner sides of the grooves being of reduced height through out the lengths of the members to accommodate tie members lil. J

The members s just reierred to', as illustrated; are in the form of strips or narrow plates preferably oi' metal, opposite edges of which plates are bent downwardly toform flanges 2| which enter the grooves |5 o! the members 9 so that in eflect the ends of the plates are hooked over the 15 inner walls I'l of those grooves. I Each of 'these plates I 9, as shown, is bent to provide intermediate its length a V-shaped bead 23 having an apex portion 25 which coacts with the upper surface of the block immediately bezo low it to act as a foot preventing undue down- ",wai'd flexure oi' the plates, which flexure, if it occurred, might cause c'ne or the other of the flanges 2| at the ends of'the plate to snap out 01' the groove I 5 which normally receives it.. The apex 25 of the bead 23 need not touch. the adv jacent block, but .may be spaced therefrom so long as the space between them will prevent undue flexure ot. the plate.

-If desired, and as shown; the apex portions of the heads 23 enter the grooves 'l of the blocks and thus act to cause the beads to aid in preventing displacement oi the blocks relative to each other transversely of the wall. The bead 23 also serves the purpose of providing ready means for increasing or decreasing the distance between' the flanges 2| of each plate l9,.which may be necessary or desirable to` compensate for slight discrepancies in manufacture of the blocks.

I By striking the apices o! the heads with a-hammer the angles between the sides of the heads will be increased to spread the flanges 2| farther apart. On the other hand, by pressing the sides of the beads toward each other, say by use of plie'sv, the angles between the sides ot the beads will be decreased and the fianges 2| drawn towardeach other. A v

' Although in the present embodiment of the invention the plates s are shown as of relatively short length in the direction of the length of the wall, they may, however, be coextensive in length with the' members 9,. Where it is necessary to make a joint in the members 9 as indicated at 2l"in Fig. 6, a plate IS positioned at said joint o as to eng age the abutting end portions ot the u two members 9 will hold said members at said joint in alignment. As will be clear from Flg. 3,

when the blocks are assembled, the blocks immediately above the plates |9 will hold them in assembled relation with the associated members 9.

As illustrated, between the vertical faces of adjoining blocks of each row are placed bonding members which are in the form of plates 29 having at opposite ends at each side thereof a longitudinally extending fiange 31', these flanges engaging with the vertical shoulder portions 5 of the exterior surfaces of the blocks.i If desired, and as shown, these plates at the intermediate portions thereof at each of their sides are iormed with raised beads 33 which enter the grooves 'l of the blocks and coact with the oppositely facing shoulders presented by the sides of said grooves to aid in bonding the blocks together. Preferably, plates 29 at the upper and lower corners thereof are notched as shown at in Fig. 5

i to fit the adjacent surfaces of the members 9 hanging portion of the wall 39. This construc-- so that the plates 29 will be interloclsd with those 'members and thereby be prevented from moving ti'on it has been found facilitates ready. assemblage of parts in building up the wall and acts to insure that the plates !9 will remain in cooperative relation with the members 9.

In building up the wall the pairof members 9 may be laid along the floor and locked together with the plates !19 which, when of short length,'

arepreferably positioned so as to extend across the blocks adjacent the joints between them. As each blockis placed on these lowermost members |9 a plate 29 is positioned at the end of the block prior to placing the next block in position.

When the lower couse is laid members 9 are placed at the top of that course and locked together with the plates IS; The operation is then repeated to lay the subsequent courses. V

If it .is desired to make the wall water and air tight, mastic or any suitable plasti'c material may be placed on the members 9 and 29 adjacent the' inner faces of the flanges |3 and 3i, respectively, as the blocks are being laid, or, if desired, the mastie may be so placed as to fill the spaces between the blocks between these flanges.

It will be observed that the members 9 and plates 29 act to finishthe joints of the wall, and

that as these 'parts are all locked together and to each block about its .four corners, each block is securely held against diplacement relative to all the surrounding blocks' It will of course be understood that the vertical and horizontal bonding means shown may be interchanged and that the blocks" described may e be narrow so as to be in the nature of sheets. The

` entire wall may be made of the blocks, or the blocks may sheath a separate wall.

.The members 9 and 29 Conveniently are extruded inlong lengths of aluminum or bronze. They may however be ormed of materials such as i Bakelitewood, or other poor conductors of heat.

The members isnconveniently are formed of sheet metal 'by a rolling operation.

. :a w be understood that within the scopo or 'Operating with the exterior surfaces of the appended claims wide deviations may be made from the forms of the invention described without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

1. A wall or the like having, in combination, adjacent preformed blocks constituting part of said wall, separate longitdinally extending members between said blocks at opposite edges thereof respectively, which members have block-retaning portions cooperating` with the exterior surfaces of said blocks, and means interengaging with said members `for holding them against separation.

2.- A wall or the like having, in combination, adjacent preformed blocks constituting part of said wall, separate longitudinally extending members between said blocks at opposite edges thereof respectively, which members have block-retaining portions cooperating with the exterior surfaces of said blocks, and means positioned between said blocks interengaging with said members for holding them against separation.

3. A wall or the like having, in combination, adjacent preformed blocks constituting part of said wall, separate longitudinally extending members between said blocks at opposite edges thereof respectively, which members have block-retaining portions cooperating with the exterior surfaces of said blocks, a plate likemember positioned between said blocks, said plate-like member at each of opposite edge portions thereof having means interengaging with cooperating means on said longitudinally extending members respectively 'for holding the latter against separation.

4. A wall or the like having, in combination, adjacent preformed blocks constituting part of said wall, separate longitudinally extending members between said blocks at opposite edges thereof respectively, which members have body portions holding said blocks in spaced relation and are provided with block-retaining fianges cooperating with the exterior surfaces of said blocks, and a separately formed member connecting the first mentioned members for holding them against separation.

5. A wall or the like having, in combination,

adjacent preformed blocks constituting part of said wall, separate longitudinally extending members betweensaid blocks at-opposite edges thereof respectively, which members have body portions holding said blocks in spaced relation and are provided with block-retaining fianges cosaid blocks, and a separately formed plate-like member between said blocks having its opposite edge portions connected to the first mentioned members respectively for holding the latter against separation.

6. A wall or the like having, in combination, adjacent preformed blocks constituting part of said wall, separate longitudinally extending members between said blocks at opposite edges thereof respectively, which members have body portions holding said b ocks in spaced relation and are provided with i lock-retaining flanges cooperating with the er terior surfaces of said blocks, said body portions being' provided with longitudinally extending grooves, and a member be- `tween said blocks laving, at opposite end portions thereof, parts received insaid grooves for holding said longtudinally extending .members a pair of rows of adjacent blocks, longitudinally extending members between said rows at opposite edges thereof common to a plurality of blocks,

- aration.

which members have portions cooperating with the exterior surfaces of said blocks, and means between said rows interengaging with said members for preventing separation thereof.

8. A wall or the like having, in combination, a pair of rows of adjacent blocks, longitudinally extending members between said rows at opposite edges thereof common to aplurality of b1ocks, 'which members have portions cooperating with the exterior surfaces of said blocks, and a plurality of spaced means between said rows interengaging with said members for preventing separation thereof.

9. A wall -or the likehaving, in combination, a pairof rows of adjacent blocks, longitudinally extending members between said rows at opposite edges thereof common to a, plurality of blocks, which members have portions cooperating with the exterior surfaces of said blocks, and a platelike member positioned between said rows, which member at-each of opposite edge portions thereof has means interengaging with cooperating means on said longitudinally extending members respectively for holding the latter against sep- 10. A wall or the like having, in combination, a pair of rows of adjacent blocks, longitudinally extending members between said rows at opposite edges thereof common to a plurality of blocks, which members have portions cooperating with the exterior surfaces of said blocks, and a plurality of spaced plate-like members positioned between said rows, which members at each 'of opposite edge portions thereofhave means interengaging with cooperating means o n said longitudinally extendingmembers respectively' for holding the latter against separation.

11. A wall or 'the like having; in combination, adjacent preformed blocks forming part oi' said wall, and separate longitudinallyextending members between said blocks at the opposite edges thereof holding said blocks'in spaced relation adjacent-preformed blocks constituting part of and flnishing the joints between theni.

12. An elongated member for use betweenthe joints or preformed blocks or the like assembled to form a wall comprising a relatively narrow body portion adapted to extend between such blocks at the edges thereof, and, at one edge of said body portion at each of opposite sides there-' of, a longitudinally extending block-retaining- 13. An elongated member for use between the joints oipreformedblocks or the like assembled to form a wall comprising a relatively narrow body portion adapted to extend between such blocks at the edges. thereof, and, at one ,edge of said body portion at'each of opposite sides thereof, a longitudinally extendi'ng block-retaining flange, said body portion at one side thereof having a longitudirally extending groove adapted to receive a tie member for attachment thereto.

14. A wall or the like having, in combination,

said. wall, separate longitudinally extending members between said blocks at opposite edges thereof respectively, which members have blockretaining portions cooperatingvwith theexterior surfaces' of said blocks, said blocks being formed with ,shoulder .means on the racing 'surfaces thereof, and 'means linterengaging with said members and with the shoulder means of said blocks for holding said members against relative v separation and said blocks in assembled' relation.

15. A'wall or the like having, in combination,

adjacent preformed blocks constitutng part of said wall, separate .longitudinally extending members between said-blocks at opposite edges thereof respectively,' which members have blockretaining portions cooperating with the exterior surfaces of said blocks, said blgcks being formed with shoulder means on the facing surfaces thereof, and a plate-like member positioned between said blocks, which member at each of opposite edges thereof has means interengaging with cooperating means on said longitudinally extending members respectively and has means interengaging with said shoulder means of said blocks forholding said longitudinally extending members against relative separation and said blocks in assembled relation.

16. A tie member for use in preformed block walls comprising a metal sheet-like article' shaped to form a fiange at one side thereof at each of opposite edges thereof, and, at an intermediate portion thereof, being shaped to provide a projection for engaging the' groove of a grooved block.

17. A wall or the like having, in combination,

preformed blocks arranged in vertical and horizontal rows, separate longitudinally extending members between rows of said blocks at the edges thereof having portions cooperating with the ad- -jacent exterior surfaces of the blocks forming such rows for interlocking said rows together, means between the same rows as said members interengaging with the latter for preventing their separation, and means between the blocks forming said rows having portions nterlocking with said members and other portions cooperating with the adjacent exterior surfaces of the blocks for looking said blocks together.

` 18. A wall according to claim 17 in which the blocks have shoulder means on^the four faces thereof opposed to other blocks, and said means which interengages with said members between the rows and said means between the blocks,

forming said rows both have portions cooperating with said shoulder means for interlocking the blocks together. e

19. A wall or the like having, in combination, vertical and horizontal rows of blocks, the rows the latter against separation; and, between the blocks iorrning the last mentioned rows, -platelike members having at opposite edge portions thereof flanges engaging withthe exterior surfaces of the blocks, said plate-like members at each end thereof being notched to engage with the first mentioned members.

20. An elongated' member, for looking together the blocks of a wall, comprising an elongated plate-like part provided,.at each side thereof at opposite edges thereof, with a longitudinally extending iiange,- which flanges are so formed as to make substantially square corners with the body of said part, and, at an intermediate portion thereof, at each side thereof, being formed with' a longitudinally extending raised bead.

21. A wall or the like having, in combination, adjacent preformed blocks constituting part of said wall, said blocks being formed adJacent opposed surfaces mem with spaced oppositely 'racing' shoulder means, separate longtudinally extending members each cooperating with a pair of the adjacent shoulder means presentedby a pairpf blocks, and means other than said blocks cooperating with said longitudlnaly ext'endlng members for retaining them in operative relatlon to said shoulder means. 4 9

22. A wall or the likehaving, in combination, adjacent pretormed' blooks constltuting part of said wall, said blocks being !omed adjacent opposed surfaces thereof with 'spaced opposltely racing shoulder means, separate longitudinally for cooperation with shoulders on the block, and

having a plate-like portion between said spaced portions for connecting the letter formed to provide a. latera bead having spaced side walls.

RUSSELL L. HOHL. 

